MAC December Student Spotlight: Charlotte

As we mentioned last month, we love to run classes here at the MAC Community Arts Center & Gallery! In addition to our Homeschool and Afterschool programs for K-8 students, we have recently started a Middle & High School Art Club (totally free, but donations are always welcome!) led by one of our most beloved local artists and teachers, the amazing Dana Ellis. We've hosted 4 sessions so far this fall, and plan to keep them going when we're all back from the holidays. We have been really pleased to have so many young artists come and join us for these sessions. This month, we took a moment to talk to one of those young artists, Charlotte, a 9th grader at MHS.

Why do you love art - and what kind of art is your favorite?

I started drawing when I was in 6th grade and I like it because it’s a good way to get emotions out. I’m not great at expressing emotion verbally so art is better because it’s like you don’t have to do that - you can put your emotions in there without having to say them. Self expression and what not.

Do you have a favorite piece of art you have created?

I did this one painting of a forest, and I really like that because I like nature a lot and the woods. For inspiration, I look at stuff online that people post, and I like stuff that’s creative that isn’t what you would normally see from other people. Really anything that’s more unique than your standard creation.

What would you say to a friend to get them interested in art?

It’s a great way to express yourself and create things - and it’s fun. I came to this class at MAC because Ms. Ellis was teaching at the middle school when I was there, and we had an art club like this - and I liked it because of the people, and the freedom of being able to create whatever you want.

Do you think art is important? Why?

Yes, because it’s part of history, and you can see what things have happened in the past, and you can see changes in the way people think and how they create. That’s why I dislike AI - because it is destroying creativity in other people.

What do you love to create the most?

I like sketching and drawing. It’s kind of simple and you can practice easily - and do whatever you want. In some ways, t’s so basic that everything else comes from there. It can look really good sometimes - just the plain graphite.

Is there anything else we should know or that you'd like to tell us?

I really like nature - I ski, and I also crochet.

Does Art Make you see Nature differently? 

A little bit, yes. Art is one of the things where you can see what people think by looking at what they create.